{"id":"abortion-law-reform-act-2008","name":"Abortion Law Reform Act 2008","slug":"abortion-law-reform-act-2008","collection":"act","jurisdiction":"vic","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":28662,"registerId":"vic-abortion-law-reform-act-2008-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-01","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Abortion Law Reform Act 2008","content":"Version No. 005\n\n**Abortion Law Reform Act 2008**\n\n**No. 58 of 2008**\n\nVersion incorporating amendments as at  \n1 July 2012\n\n**table of provisions**\n\n*Section Page*\n\nPart 1—Preliminary 1\n\n1 Purposes 1\n\n2 Commencement 1\n\n3 Definitions 2\n\nPart 2—Role of Registered Health Practitioners 4\n\n4 Termination of pregnancy by registered medical practitioner  \nat not more than 24 weeks 4\n\n5 Termination of pregnancy by registered medical practitioner  \nafter 24 weeks 4\n\n6 Supply or administration of drugs by registered pharmacist or registered nurse—at not more than 24 weeks 4\n\n7 Supply or administration of drugs by registered pharmacist or registered nurse—more than 24 weeks 5\n\n8 Obligations of registered health practitioner who has conscientious objection 6\n\nPart 3—*Repealed* 7\n\n9–12 *Repealed* 7\n\nENDNOTES 8\n\n1. General Information 8\n\n2. Table of Amendments 9\n\n3. Explanatory Details 10\n\n**Version No.** **005**\n\n**Abortion Law Reform Act 2008**\n\n**No. 58 of 2008**\n\nVersion incorporating amendments as at  \n1 July 2012\n\n**The Parliament of Victoria enacts:**\n\nPart 1—Preliminary\n\n\t1 Purposes\n\nThe main purposes of this Act are—\n\n(a) to reform the law relating to abortion; and\n\n(b) to regulate health practitioners performing abortions; and\n\n(c) to amend the **Crimes Act 1958**—\n\n(i) to repeal the provisions relating to abortion; and\n\n(ii) to abolish the common law offences relating to abortion; and\n\n(iii) to make it an offence for an unqualified person to perform an abortion; and\n\n(iv) to amend the definition of ***serious injury*** to include the destruction of a foetus other than in the course of a medical procedure.\n\n\t2 Commencement\n\nThis Act commences on the day after the day on which it receives the Royal Assent.\n\n\t3 Definitions\n\ns. 3\n\nIn this Act—\n\n***abortion*** means intentionally causing the termination of a woman's pregnancy by—\n\n(a) using an instrument; or\n\n(b) using a drug or a combination of drugs; or\n\n(c) any other means;\n\nS. 3 def. of *registered health practitioner* substituted by Nos 13/2010 s. 51(Sch. item 1), 27/2012 s. 6(1).\n\n***registered health practitioner*** means a person registered under the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law to practise a health profession (other than as a student);\n\nS. 3 def. of *registered medical practitioner* substituted by No. 13/2010 s. 51(Sch. item 1).\n\n***registered medical practitioner*** means a person registered under  the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law to practise in the medical profession (other than as a student);\n\nS. 3 def. of *registered nurse* substituted by No. 13/2010 s. 51(Sch. item 1).\n\n***registered nurse*** means a person registered under the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law to practise in the nursing and midwifery profession as a nurse or as a midwife (other than as a student);\n\nS. 3 def. of *registered pharmacist* substituted by No. 13/2010 s. 51(Sch. item 1).\n\n***registered pharmacist*** means a person registered under the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law to practise in the pharmacy profession (other than as a student);\n\nS. 3 def. of *regulated health profession* substituted by Nos 13/2010 s. 51(Sch. item 1), 27/2012 s. 6(2).\n\n***regulated health profession*** means a health profession within the meaning of the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law;\n\n***woman*** means a female person of any age.\n\ns. 3\n\n__________________\n\nPart 2—Role of Registered Health Practitioners\n\n\t4 Termination of pregnancy by registered medical practitioner at not more than 24 weeks\n\ns. 4\n\nA registered medical practitioner may perform an abortion on a woman who is not more than 24 weeks pregnant.\n\n\t5 Termination of pregnancy by registered medical practitioner after 24 weeks\n\n(1) A registered medical practitioner may perform an abortion on a woman who is more than 24 weeks pregnant only if the medical practitioner—\n\n(a) reasonably believes that the abortion is appropriate in all the circumstances; and\n\n(b) has consulted at least one other registered medical practitioner who also reasonably believes that the abortion is appropriate in all the circumstances.\n\n(2) In considering whether the abortion is appropriate in all the circumstances, a registered medical practitioner must have regard to—\n\n(a) all relevant medical circumstances; and\n\n(b) the woman's current and future physical, psychological and social circumstances.\n\n\t6 Supply or administration of drugs by registered pharmacist or registered nurse—at not more than 24 weeks\n\nA registered pharmacist or registered nurse who is authorised under the **Drugs, Poisons and Controlled Substances Act 1981** to supply a drug or drugs may administer or supply the drug or drugs to cause an abortion in a woman who is not more than 24 weeks pregnant.\n\n\t7 Supply or administration of drugs by registered pharmacist or registered nurse—more than 24 weeks\n\ns. 7\n\n(1) A registered medical practitioner may, in writing, direct a registered pharmacist or registered nurse, who is employed or engaged by a hospital, to administer or supply a drug or drugs to cause an abortion in a woman who is more than 24 weeks pregnant only if the medical practitioner—\n\n(a) reasonably believes that the abortion is appropriate in all the circumstances; and\n\n(b) has consulted at least one other registered medical practitioner who also reasonably believes that the abortion is appropriate in all the circumstances.\n\n(2) In considering whether the abortion is appropriate in all the circumstances, a registered medical practitioner must have regard to—\n\n(a) all relevant medical circumstances; and\n\n(b) the woman's current and future physical, psychological and social circumstances.\n\n(3) A registered pharmacist may administer or supply a drug or drugs to cause an abortion in a woman who is more than 24 weeks pregnant only if the pharmacist is employed or engaged by a hospital and only at the written direction of a registered medical practitioner.\n\n(4) A registered nurse may administer or supply a drug or drugs to cause an abortion in a woman who is more than 24 weeks pregnant only if the nurse is employed or engaged by a hospital and only at the written direction of a registered medical practitioner.\n\n(5) In this section ***hospital*** means a public hospital, private hospital or day procedure centre within the meaning of the **Health Services Act 1988**.\n\n\t8 Obligations of registered health practitioner who has conscientious objection\n\ns. 8\n\n(1) If a woman requests a registered health practitioner to advise on a proposed abortion, or to perform, direct, authorise or supervise an abortion for that woman, and the practitioner has a conscientious objection to abortion, the practitioner must—\n\n(a) inform the woman that the practitioner has a conscientious objection to abortion; and\n\n(b) refer the woman to another registered health practitioner in the same regulated health profession who the practitioner knows does not have a conscientious objection to abortion.\n\n(2) Subsection (1) does not apply to a practitioner who is under a duty set out in subsection (3) or (4).\n\n(3) Despite any conscientious objection to abortion, a registered medical practitioner is under a duty to perform an abortion in an emergency where the abortion is necessary to preserve the life of the pregnant woman.\n\n(4) Despite any conscientious objection to abortion, a registered nurse is under a duty to assist a registered medical practitioner in performing an abortion in an emergency where the abortion is necessary to preserve the life of the pregnant woman.\n\n__________________\n\nPt 3 (Heading and ss 9–12) repealed by No. 58/2008 s. 12.\n\n* * * * *\n\ns. 9\n\n\n\nENDNOTES\n\n1. General Information\n\n\n *Minister's second reading speech—*\n\n *Legislative Assembly: 19 August 2008*\n\n *Legislative Council: 12 September 2008*\n\nEndnotes\n\nThe long title for the Bill for this Act was \"A Bill for an Act to reform the law relating to abortion, to amend the **Crimes Act 1958** and for other purposes.\"\n\nThe **Abortion Law Reform Act 2008** was assented to on 22 October 2008 and came into operation on 23 October 2008: section 2.\n\n1. Table of Amendments\n\n\nEndnotes\n\nThis Version incorporates amendments made to the **Abortion Law Reform Act 2008** by Acts and subordinate instruments.\n\n–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––\n\n**Abortion Law Reform Act 2008, No. 58/2008**\n\n| Assent Date: | 22.10.08 |\n| --- | --- |\n| Commencement Date: | S. 12 on 22.10.09: s. 12 |\n| Current State: | This information relates only to the provision/s amending the **Abortion Law Reform Act 2008** |\n\n\n**Statute Law Amendment (National Health Practitioner Regulation) Act 2010, No. 13/2010**\n\n| Assent Date: | 30.3.10 |\n| --- | --- |\n| Commencement Date: | S. 51(Sch. item 1) on 1.7.10: s. 2(2) |\n| Current State: | This information relates only to the provision/s amending the **Abortion Law Reform Act 2008** |\n\n\n**Health Professions Registration (Repeal) Act 2012, No. 27/2012**\n\n| Assent Date: | 29.5.12 |\n| --- | --- |\n| Commencement Date: | S. 6 on 1.7.12: s. 2 |\n| Current State: | This information relates only to the provision/s amending the **Abortion Law Reform Act 2008** |\n\n\n–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––\n\n1. Explanatory Details\n\n\nEndnotes\n\nNo entries at date of publication.","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"issue_detection":{"absurdities":[],"contradictions":[]},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The legislation remains focused on its original purpose: decriminalising abortion and establishing a regulatory framework for health practitioners. The amendments shown (2010 and 2012) are technical updates to reflect changes in national health practitioner registration schemes, not substantive expansions of scope. Part 3 was repealed as originally scheduled (see s.12 commencement note showing repeal took effect 22.10.09), indicating the Act is operating as intended."},"complexity_factors":["Short statute with only 8 operative sections (sections 9-12 repealed)","Straightforward structure: definitions, procedural rules for different gestational periods, conscientious objection provisions","Minimal cross-referencing—only references to Drugs, Poisons and Controlled Substances Act 1981, Health Services Act 1988, and Health Practitioner Regulation National Law for definitions","Simple conditional logic: primarily the 24-week threshold dividing different procedural requirements","6 defined terms in section 3, all relating to professional registration status","No nested exceptions or complex deeming provisions","Conscientious objection section (s.8) contains clear carve-outs for emergency situations, but these are explicitly stated rather than convoluted"],"plain_english_summary":"**What this law does:**\n\nThis Act decriminalises abortion in Victoria and sets out clear rules for when and how it can be performed. Before this law, abortion was a crime under the Crimes Act 1958. This Act removes those criminal offences and replaces them with a regulated healthcare framework.\n\n**Who can perform abortions:**\n\n- **Doctors (registered medical practitioners)** can perform surgical abortions\n- **Pharmacists and nurses** can supply or administer abortion drugs, but only if authorised under drug laws\n\n**The 24-week rule:**\n\n- **Up to 24 weeks:** A doctor can perform an abortion without any additional requirements. Pharmacists and nurses can also supply/administer drugs for abortion.\n- **After 24 weeks:** Two doctors must agree the abortion is \"appropriate in all the circumstances,\" considering medical factors and the woman's physical, psychological and social situation. After 24 weeks, pharmacists and nurses can only assist if working in a hospital and acting on a doctor's written direction.\n\n**Conscientious objection:**\n\nHealthcare workers who object to abortion on moral or religious grounds must:\n- Tell the woman about their objection\n- Refer her to another practitioner who doesn't object\n\nHowever, **doctors and nurses must assist in emergencies** to save a woman's life, even if they object.\n\n**Other important changes:**\n\n- Makes it a crime for **unqualified people** to perform abortions\n- Updates the definition of \"serious injury\" in the Crimes Act to include destroying a foetus (except during proper medical procedures)\n\n**Who it affects:**\n\nWomen seeking abortion services, doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and hospitals in Victoria.\n\n**Why it matters:**\n\nThis was a landmark reform that moved abortion from the criminal law into healthcare regulation, establishing clear professional standards while protecting access to services."},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":4,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"The Act’s core operational rules—permitting abortions up to 24 weeks with broader conditions after 24 weeks, and setting practitioner duties—remain in the text (s.4–8). However, the scope of who counts as a qualifying practitioner has been altered by later amendments substituting the definitions in s.3 to reference the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law (see notes to s.3 as substituted by Nos 13/2010 s.51(Sch. item 1) and 27/2012 s.6(1)–(2)). Part 3 (ss.9–12) is recorded as repealed in the text. Those changes refine the boundaries of who is a \"registered medical practitioner\", \"registered nurse\" or \"registered pharmacist\" and thus shift the set of persons and workplaces able to operate under the Act’s permissions, without changing the Act’s core gestational thresholds and procedural rules (s.4–8)."},"complexity_factors":["Cross‑references to multiple other statutes for operational detail (Health Practitioner Regulation National Law; Drugs, Poisons and Controlled Substances Act 1981; Health Services Act 1988) (s.3; s.6; s.7(5)).","Binary gestational threshold (24 weeks) that changes legal permissions and adds consultation and written‑direction requirements after that point (s.4–7).","Second‑opinion requirement for abortions after 24 weeks (s.5(1)(b); s.7(1)(b)) increases procedural steps and potential for delay.","Differentiated roles for registered medical practitioners, pharmacists and nurses, and employment/location constraints for pharmacists/nurses after 24 weeks (s.6; s.7(3)–(4)).","Conscientious objection duty to refer to another practitioner in the same regulated health profession creates practical search and referral obligations (s.8(1)(b)).","Definitions updated by later amendments to align with a national registration regime, altering who qualifies as a registered practitioner (notes to s.3).","Criminal backstop for unqualified persons (s.1(c)(iii)) creates enforceable boundaries but requires interaction with enforcement mechanisms in other legislation."],"plain_english_summary":"This law decriminalises abortion and replaces older offences with a statutory regulatory framework for registered health practitioners. It lets registered medical practitioners provide abortions up to 24 weeks, imposes a two‑doctor \"appropriate in all the circumstances\" test for later abortions, and limits pharmacists’/nurses’ roles after 24 weeks to hospital settings under written medical direction.\n\nIt requires objecting practitioners to inform and refer, ties practitioner status to national registration, and shifts practical costs, procedural burdens and service location incentives onto providers, hospitals and patients."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/abortion-law-reform-act-2008","history":"/api/acts/abortion-law-reform-act-2008/history","analysis":"/api/acts/abortion-law-reform-act-2008/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/abortion-law-reform-act-2008/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/abortion-law-reform-act-2008/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/abortion-law-reform-act-2008/documents"}}